Tropical storm to reach Newfoundland Saturday night

An Environment Canada Canadian Hurricane Centre map shows the storm track for tropical storm Andrea which is expected to affect Newfoundland Saturday night and into Sunday.

Tropical storm Andrea is expected to bring rain to southern Newfoundland by late Saturday, according to Environment Canada’s Canadian Hurricane Centre.

The storm system is currently about 50 kms north of Charleston, South Carolina, with maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h. Environment Canada says it’s expected to become a post-tropical storm by the end of today. It’s current movement is being tracked at about 44 km/h.

The system is expected to move along the Eastern Seaboard tonight before tracking somewhere near southwestern Nova Scotia or southern New Brunswick later Saturday afternoon. It’s expected to bring rain to southern Newfoundland by late in the day Saturday, with rain becoming heaviest overnight into Sunday morning.

There’s a wind warning in effect for parts of Cape Breton, with winds of up to 100 km/h, but elsewhere Environment Canada says it’s unlikely that gusts will reach the warning criteria with gusts of 90 km/h.

“The strongest winds will likely be south of the track of the centre of the remnant low on Saturday, which could give gusts up to 70 km/h to exposed areas of Nova Scotia, especially along the Atlantic coast,” according to Environment Canada’s weather statement. “Gusty northeast winds could develop over parts of Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton and Southern Newfoundland Saturday night or Sunday in the wake of this system.”

The weather office says the main impact of the system will likely be rainfall, heavy downpours or thunder showers. Rainfall warnings for greater than 50 mms of rain in 24 hours haven’t been issued, but amounts of 25 to 45 mms are forecast and Environment Canada says there could be higher amounts.

Rainfall warnings could be issued for some areas later today.

Offshore, there are no significant storm surges expected at this time. Environment Canada says, based on the latest storm track, moderate wave conditions of three to four metres could affect the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia late in the day Saturday.